Envelop.



Patnted June 3, 1902. w. A. DEAN.

E N V E L'U P.

(Application filed Mar. 1 5, 1902.)

(N0 Model.)

THE Noam prrzns 50, vupvuuma. wAswmoTcm K? c Fern FFICEQ WILLIAM A. DEAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ENVELOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 701,308, dated June 3, 190.2.

Application filed March 15, 1902- Serial No. 98,306. (No model.)

To all whom, it 722.01. concern:

Be it known that I,WILLIAM A. DnAN,a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelops, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to envelops, wrappers, and the like for transmitting through the mails printed matter, merchandise, and other matter in such a condition as permits examination of the contents without injuring the envelop or wrapper, as required by the laws and regulations of the United States Post- Ofiice Department to secure a less rate of postage than is required on sealed matter.

Among the principal objects of my invention may be mentioned, first, to provide an envelop that shall carry unsealed matter with increased security and less danger of loss of the contents therefrom; second, to dispense entirely with external fastening appliances, such as buttonsand cords, clasps, hooks, and the like; third, to provide an envelop capable of being filled with increased speed and facility.

Other minor objects of the invention will appear later in connection with the following description.

To these ends my invention consists in an unsealed envelop having the novel characteristics of structure and mode of manipulation as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a paper-blank from which my novel and improved envelop is to be formed. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the completed envelop, the flap thereof being shown as open; and Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the completed envelop.

In the drawings, A represents the face of a blank which constitutes the face side of the completed envelop on which the address is to be placed.

B and C are a pair of symmetrical side flaps integral with the face A and extending the full length thereof and formed of a width sufficient when folded over to enable the outermargin of one flap to lap over and be sealed to the corresponding outer margin of the other flap, all as plainly shown in Fig. 2.

D designates a tail-flap, integral with the lower end of the face Aand formed of alength substantially equal to the length of the face A and preferably having a slightly-tapered form, being gradually contracted in width from its base or line ofjunction with the face A to its outer or free end. This outer or free end of the flap I) is equipped with an integral extension-flap D, which is adapted to be folded over toward the base of the flap D to constitute an interlocking flap or anchor, as shown in Fig. 2, when the blank is made up into envelop form.

E represents a short flap integral with the upper end of the face A, which flap may have applied to its upper margin a strip of adhesive material, whereby to retain the flap in its folded-over position after the top of the envelop has been scaled.

In forming up the envelop from the blank above described the flap D is first turned up wardly on its line of fold and caused to lie upon the back of the face A. The two side flaps are then folded over the tail-flap D, with the margin of one side flap overlapping the corresponding margin of the other, and said margins being united by a suitable strip of paste or other adhesive. This done the tailflap extension D is folded over, so as to lie outside of and above the outer surfaces of the upper ends of the side flaps B and O, as plainly indicated in Fig. 2. The envelop is then ready to receive its contents, which may be readily inserted in the open upper end of the envelop, (see Fig. 3,) after which the top flap E is folded down over and completely covering the locking-flap D, and the free margin of the flap E is secured byits strip of adhesive to the underlying top surfaces of the side flaps B and 0, below the lower margin of the locking-flap D.

In the construction of the envelop above described it will be observed that the upper end of the envelopis sealed by the top flap E. The sides of the envelop are likewise sealed by the sealed connection of the overlapping margins of the side flaps B and C; but the lower end of the envelop is open and affords an opportunity for an inspection of the contents, which may be done by inserting the thumb or finger within the lower end of tho envelop between the opposing sur too withdrawal of the tail-flap, as wellas to provide an opening through which the contents may be inspected without positively removing the tail-flap, I may provide in the latter an opening or aperture D near the base thereof. A pull upon the flap D, such as may readily be effected by inserting the end or ball of the thumb into the opening I) or, when there is no such opening, by moistening the ball of the thumb to secure a frictional contact with the surface of the flap, will suffice to overcome the interlocking or anchoring effect of the extension-flap D, whereupon the tail-flap may be entirely Withdrawn, leaving the contents of the envelop free to be withdrawn through the lower end thereof forinspection. Afterinspectionthecontents may be replaced through the same lower open end of the envelop and the tail-flap D reinserted by simply thrusting the same back into place. Such reinsertion of the tail-flap will not, it is true, effect the relocking of the same, over the upper edges of the side flaps B and C; but, owing to the fact that the tailflap has a length practically coextensive with the entire length of the face of the envelop, such replacement of the tail-tlap without a relocking of its upper end will be sufficient to insure the retention of the contents by the envelop until the same has been delivered at its destination. I

From the foregoing it will be seen that my invention entirely dispenses with the necessity of external fastening devicessuch as buttons, strings, hooks, and the likewhich are expensive, detract from the appearance of the package, and being on the outside of the envelop require heavier stock to be used to-keep them from being torn off, and which, furthermore, may injure or become fastened to other matter in the mails. My improved envelop being free from such devices and having the anchoring-flap D disposed as shown may be made of comparatively light paper consistently with the retention and preservation of its contents in transit. Many envelops are difficult to fill,because the mouth' closing of the upper end thereof requires no more time than the closing of an ordinary sealed envelop, whereas in the ordinary forms of envelops which are sent unsealed considerable time is necessarily expended in properlytucking the closing-flapinside the envelop over the contents.

My improved envelop may be made of paper oranyothersuitable material. Theheadand tail flaps E and D may be located on either the long or short sides of the envelop, and the opening D in the tail-flap may be employed or omitted, as preferred, without departing from my invention.

I claim- 1. An envelop or wrapper, consisting of a face portion, a pair of side flaps thereon the outer meeting margins of which are united to constitute the back, a tail-flap underlying and unattached to said connected side flaps and having an extension in the nature of an anchoring-flap which folds over and is unattached to the outside of said connected side flaps at the upper end thereof, and a top flap adapted to be folded down over said anchoring-flap, substantially as described.

2. An envelop or wrapper, consisting of a face portion, a pair of integral side flaps thereon the outer meeting margins of which are united to constitute the back, an integral tail-flap underlying and unattached to said connected side flaps and having an extension in the nature of an anchoring-flap which folds over and is unattached to the outside of said connected side flaps at the upper end thereof, and an integral top flap adapted to be folded down over said anchoring-flap and to be sealed to the back of said connected side flaps below said anchoringfiap, substantially as described.

3. An envelop or wrapper, consisting of a face portion, a pair of integral side flaps thereon the outer meeting margins of which overlap and are sealed to constitute the back, an integral tail-flap folded back upon said face portion beneath said connected side flaps and unattached thereto and having an extension in the nature of an anchoring-flap which folds over and is unattached to the outside of said connected side flaps at the upperend thereof, and a top flap adapted to be folded down over said anchoringlap and to be sealed to the back of the side flaps below said anchoring-flap, substantially as described. 4. An envelop or wrapper, consisting of a face portion, a pair of side flaps thereon the outer meeting margins of which are united to constitute the back, a tail-flap underlying and unattached to said connected side flaps and having an opening formed therethrough near its base, an anchoring-flap integral with and constituting an end cxtensionof said tailflap folded over the outside of said connected side flaps at the upper end thereof and unattached thereto, and a top flap adapted to be folded down over said anchoring-flap, substantially as described.

\VILLIAM A. DEAN.

WVitnesses:

SAMUEL N. POND, FREDERICK C. Goonwm. 

